United States President Donald Trump and prominent members of his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement will pay tribute Sunday (September 21, 2025) to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose killing has marked a signal moment in America's fraught political atmosphere.
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Mr. Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 U.S. election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice-President J.D. Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old Trump ally.
Kirk's assassination at a September 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting also has stirred fear among some Americans that Mr. Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents.
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The service will take place at State Farm Stadium, the home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals west of Phoenix, where Kirk's Turning Point organisation is based. Security is expected to be tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile event.
